The quiet gentleman

Muralidhara khajane

K.S. Ashwath, among Kannada cinema's real actors, is no more. Sadly, this "star-driven" industry made no exceptions to even a phenomenal actor like Ashwath. He, who lent a new dimension to every role that he played, Ashwath was truly someone who expanded the horizon of the supporting actor. How is it possible for any Kannada film lover to forget the role of Chamaiah Meshtru in the pathbreaking film, "Nagarahavu". It's more than a mere coincidence that both Chamaiah Meshtru and Ramachari, played by Vishnuvardhan, passed away within a gap of less than three weeks. In fact, close friends have said how Ashwath was heart broken when he heard Vishnuvardhan was no more. Struck by the character and its portrayal, director Shantharam made "Karnana Sampattu" in which he reimaged Chamaiah Meshtru.

Ashwath entered Kannada films as a hero in "Streerathna" (1954), but could not retain his position as hero for long. That, however, did not deter him from continuing his career in cinema. He opted for strong supporting roles and created a niche for himself. "Our film makers should realise that films are much more than the glorified heroism," he would often say underlining the role supporting actors had in the making of a good film.

Karaganahalli Subbaraya Ashwathanarayana, originally from Holenarsipura taluk was born in Mysore in 1925. His formal education came to an end at the intermediate level when he joined the freedom struggle in 1942. Two years later, he got a job as a Food Inspector. He later became a steno in the Deputy Commissioner's office. He spent ten years in Government service.

His acting career began, when he started participating in radio plays produced by Mysore All India Radio. His friendship with theatre people took him on stage too. He etched major roles in the plays of A.N. Murthy Rao, Parvathavani and others. Film director K. Subrahmanyam, who saw him in one of these plays, selected him for a role in "Streerathna". Unmindful of the family's stiff opposition, Ashwath gave up his government job and took the plunge. Of course, he was not flooded with offers. As fate would have it, his third child died of liver problem, just when he had made this difficult choice. With a heavy heart, Ashwath left for Madras, the seat of cinema in those days in search of work. There after, on his occasional visits to Karnataka he toured the districts with the drama troupes of his friends.

In 1960, he played the role of a Swamiji in "Kittur Chennamma" with B. Saroja Devi in the lead role. The same year he played Narada in the hit "Bhakta Prahlada". His role in "Gali Gopura" gave him an edge and helped shape his career as an artiste of immense calibre. Ashwath then got a role in the English film "Seven Wonders of the World' and even became the first Kannada actor in a colour film.

Several of his films became big hits. He won three national awards and several awards for being the best supporting actor. "I put everything into my roles and acting gave me a certain satisfaction. But if the roles I essayed didn't look natural, I would shrink in embarrassment," he would often say. Film critics who have studied Ashwath and his enormous contribution to Kannada cinema, were of the opinion that even when the main narrative of a film revolved around false social details, it was Ashwath who created a sub-text of authenticity, genuineness.

Among his best roles are "Nagarahavu", "Nandadeepa", "Gejjepuje", "Sharapanjara" "Jenugudu", "Nyayave Devaru" and "Belli Moda". Ashwath is the only one in "Sharapanjara" who sympathises with his daughter (Kalpana), who suffers from hallucinations. Similarly he is the only person (Chamayya Meshtru) to support and defend the angry young man Ramacharai (Vishnuvardhan), while society accuses and blames him. In "Gejje Puje" the anguish of protagonist gets soothing touch only because of Ashwath. A strict disciplinarian, his was the sane voice in most films that dealt with serious social issues.

After acting in nearly 300 films, he stopped acting a few years ago, because he was not happy the way Kannada industry was functioning. It was due to the insistence of his dear friend and fellow actor, Rajkumar that he changed his decision. He acted with the Kannada icon in "Shabdavedi". Regardless of his age, he acted in "Bhoopathi" and "Sirivantha" recently.

Ashwath who was suffering from Vetebro Basilar inefficiency, a disorder caused by high blood pressure, was going through difficult times. He was finding it hard to meet medical expenses. Despite his hardships, not once did he ask for help. However, Government, cine artists and social organisations came forward to help him.

The gentleman Ashwath who kept a low profile always, is no more. In him, we have not only lost a great actor but it is also the end of an era and a value system. "Lifestyle is changing, generation gap is widening. We have to gracefully accept the change," he would quietly say.

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Departure of “Apta Mitra”

Muralidhara Khajane writes about great cine actor vishnuvardhan

Another glorious chapter in Kannada cinema has closed with the Kannada matinee idol Vishnuvardhan passing awa

y in the wee hours of December 30 following a cardiac arrest. His sudden departure is not only a loss to Kannada film industry but also for Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Hindi, as he acted in films made in these languages.

Vishnuvardhan was staying in Kings’s Kourt hotel in Mysore. A team of doctors was rushed to the hotel, when actor complained discomfort around 2.30 am on December 30. The doctors tried to resuscitates him with available procedures. When it did not work, he was immediately rushed to the hospital, but the actor breathed his last before he was brought to the hospital.

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Vishnuvardhan who was considered as an icon of the Kannada masses following departure of thespian Dr. Rajkumar in 2006. Although Dr. Raj Kumar is the undisputed king of Kannada cinema, Vishnuvardhan who burst on to the scene 37 years after Rajkumar quietly proved to the move goers and the film makers that he is the new box-office God.

He who starred with Dr. Rajkumar only once in “Gandhada Gudi”, “happily” accepted to play under the shadow of the gigantic Dr. Rajkumar. A man of talent and enormous charm, he had proved time and again his ability to woo the masses in to the dark cinema halls. Labelled as “Sahasasihma”, “Abhinava Bhargava” and many other titles, Vishnuvardhan was wasthe he-man on the screen rescuing every one Bharathi, Arati to Suhasini and Bhavya.

Because of pressure from his huge fan following, who did not want Vishnuvardhan to deviate from his “Star Value” and “Image”, he continued to don the roles of macho hero and the ideal lover husband.

This is not to say that he excelled only in packing a mean punch. Although he was dubbed in an action-hero after the super success of “Nagarahavu” directed by the late Puttanna Kanagal,, nevertheless he had a few challenging roles along the way and “Bhootayyana Maga Ayyu” “Hombisilu” and “Bandhana” provided him with the kind of change he was looking for. “Bandhana” “Malaya Maruta”, “Harakeya Kuri”, “Suprabhata”, “Muttinahara”, “Matte Haaditu Kogile”, “Yajamana”, “Apta Mitra”, “Matad, Matad Mallige”, “Laali” showed what a volcano of talent he was. These films brought him bouquets from the discerning audience and critics for his sensitive portrayal of his characters.

An excellent actor who had played remarkable variety of roles right from the day he made his entry as a leading man in "Nagarahavu”. Interestingly, he was the art cinema movement’s abiding gift to the mainstream cinema, where he had carved a powerful slot for himself, whether his films run well or not. If most of his films have scored by their macho image and his screen fights were also normally extra fisty, there were also bridge films.

In popular films he had distinguished himself as a seeker of glamour and glitter and had been responsible for the largest number of heroines being imported from Chennai and Mumbai to act with him. He had a very professional approach to his career and did not accept more than one assignment at a time. Known for the punctuality and involvement even in the films which he did not himself produce, Vishnu had also popularized a rather unique producer-star-pair with Bhargava, one of the most successful directors in Kannada cinema.

He had also produced and distributed movies and the first leading man in Kannada to make a big budget film in Hindi “Inspector Dhanush” (co-starred with Akshay Kumar) and digested the challege.

With a keen sense of humour, Vishnuvardhan was an extremely friendly person. He married actress Bharathi in 1975. He had started singing in movies occasionally in movies and of late he was singing devotional songs for albums too. The first song he sang was in the movie “Nagarahole” (“Eee Notake”). His song “Tuttu Anna tinnoke…” of Jimmigallu made him popular too. He also sang “Sahasa Simha”, “Siritanakke Saval” and “Sididedda Sahodara”,

Besides honorary doctorate conferred on him by Bangalore University, he won Film Fare awards for best performance for seven times and seven state awards in the best actor category. He had also received Film Fare award for his life time achievement in 2004 and Dr. Rajkumar award in 2009. His “Suprabhata created record of sorts in 1988 by bagging 8 different awards and was the first Kannada cinema to do so.

Coincidence:

It might be sheer coincidence. Film Industry lost talented artist, Soundarya before the release of “Apta Mitra” a super-duper hit of actor, Vishnuvardhan. It lost Vishnuvardhan before the release “Apta Rakshaka”, which incidentally said to be 200^th film of stalwart of Kannada film industry.

Spiritualism and friendship…..

In recent years, Dr. Vishnuvardhan was seen more inclined towards spiritualism. According to his close friends sufferings in his career spanning 37 years forced him to take solace in philosophy. It was difficult for the media to get a straight answer for any question in recent years, as he used to speak in almost an abstract language.

He used to exchange thoughts on matters relating to metaphysics with erudite scholar Prof. Bannanje Govindacharya. He used to visit Bannanje’s house often. According to Prof. Bannanje, actor was inviting him for all religious functions and latter never discussed about films at any point of time. Vishnuvardhan often expressed his desire to withdraw from films. Vishnuvardhan was like his own brother and treated him as his spiritual guru. In fact Vishnuvardhan had collected a full set of Compact Disks of Prof. Bannanje’s discourses. Vishnu according to him had grown spiritually within.

It is a known fact that Vishnuvardhan had undergone lot of tension and suffering throughout his career. An untoward incident during the filming of “Gandhada Gudi” led to many scandals. The actor was under tremendous pressure for a long time. However, he withstood test of time.

Vishnuvardhan was prepared to fight for the cause of Kannada and Kannadigas. He took active role in Gokak agitation which was launched to get first language status to Kannada in Karnataka and lend shoulder to Dr. Rajkumar, who led the agitation.

To follow footsteps of Dr. Rajkumar, he refused to enter in to politics, despite pressure from various quarters. However, he campaigned for his close friend, actor turned politician, Ambarish, when ever he contested for elections.

The friendship between Ambarish and Vishnuvardhan was a model to any friendship. Both of them entered the film industry through “Nagarahavu” of Puttanna Kanagal. While Vishnuvardhan excelled in the role of “rebel” Ramachari, Ambarish drew attention of one and all as Jaleel in the film.

To model their friendship D. Rajendra Babu directed “Diggajaru”, where song “Kuchchikoo” celebrated friendship between the two. It is said that stubborn Ambarish was listening only to Vishnuvardhan.

Similarly Vishnuvardhan had a wonderful chemistry with Dwarakish. Both of them churned out many block busters. However their relation was strained for the reason best known to both of them.

Dwarakish, who undergone loss and facing problem decided to remake Malayalam’s “Manichitrataazh” as “Apta Mitra” in Kannada. He approached Vishnuvardhan for the lead role of psychiatrist in the film. Forgetting differences latter accepted the role and the film was a box office hit. But relation was again strained again, when there were too many claimants for the success.

Despite being temperamental, Vishnuvardhan was a great friend and a sensitive human being. It will be difficult to fill the void created by the actor.

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An unfulfilled desire

Actor Vishnuvardhan, who departed from the mortal world on Wednesday decided to shift to Mysore, where he was born and spend a quiet life, far from the maddening crowd of Bangalore. But destiny decided otherwise and snatched him rather prematurely.

According to Ambika and Alwin, his close friends in Mysore, Vishnuvardhan and Bharathi have decided to settle in his home town because of his health condition. According to doctors of Vikram Hospital, actor was takeing good care of his health and regularly undergoing health checks at the hospital in Yadavagiri from the past five years.

Vishnuvardhan was injured during the shooting of “Apta Rakshaka”, which is to be released shortly. He had visited the hospital to get it dressed and for physiotherapy recently. Druing his visits, he was staying in Room No. 334 and 335 of Kings Kourt Hotel in Mysore. However, to feel at home in Mysore, he had taken a flat in an apartment in Yadavagiri near Vikram Hospital as it would be easy for him to take treatment.

It is said that, he had decided to shift to his new home on Wednesday along with his family and all necessary preparations had been completed. Vishnuvardhan had also got a gas connection for his new home.

Deputy Director, Department of Food and Civil Supplies says that, actor had applied for a gas connection under VIP Special Quota stating his intention to reside in Mysore. “We have cleared the application and directed the local gas supplier to complete the process immediately. Following Direction, Siddalingeshwara Gas Agency in Gokulam III Stage provided him gas connection”, he says.

The proprietor, Siddalingeshwara Gas Service Nagesh says that, he had been instructed to offer a gas connection to the actor on priority. The process completed in a matter of few minutes. Vishnuvardhan and Bharathi arrived at the Gas agency at about 7.30 pm on December 29 in a car. Though he invited him inside, actor pleaded his inability to get down. “When I asked to sign on application form and consumer card, he signed at two columns in Kannada and smiled at me”, he recalls.

He also says that, when his daughter Kshiti came running to wish him, actor took her in his arms and offered a chocolate to her. When requested, he posed for a photograph too. “That might be last photograph of Vishnu” he says with regret.

“When my office staff informed me about the death of the actor in the early morning, I was really shocked. Had everything gone right as intended, actor would have shifted to the new apartment on Wednesday. But destiny decided otherwise. His intention to return to native remained unfulfilled”, he said with a moist eyes.

It is a sheer coincidence that Vishnuvardhan died in the place, where he was born.

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